Grearson Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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The age-old tribe of the Strathclyde Britons of the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first people to use the name Grearson. It is derived from Grier, a pet form of the given name Gregory, which means watchful.

Grearson Early Origins

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The surname Grearson was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Grearson Spelling Variations

The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Grearson has been spelled Grierson, Greson, Greyson, Grayson, Greirson and others.

Grearson Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grearson research. Another 223 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1411, 1547, 1590, 1564, 1657, 1733, 1677, 1760, 1709 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Grearson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grearson Early Notables (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family at this time was John Grierson or Grisson (died 1564?), a Scottish Dominican who is believed to have been from the family of Grierson of Lag in Dumfriesshire; Sir Robert...

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grearson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grearson In Ireland

Some of the Grearson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Grearson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Michael Grearson, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arethusa" in 1879
John Grearson, aged 19, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arethusa" in 1879

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Hoc securior
Motto Translation: Safer by this.

Grearson Family Crest Products

Citations

Other References

Barrow, G.W.S Ed. Acts of Malcom IV 1153-65 Volume I Regesta Regum Scottorum 1153-1424. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1960. Print.
Black, George F. The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3).
Weis, Frederick Lewis, Walter Lee Sheppard and David Faris. Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England Between 1623 and 1650 7th Edition. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0806313676).
Skene, William Forbes Edition. Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots and Other Early Memorials of Scottish History. Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House, 1867. Print.
Best, Hugh. Debrett's Texas Peerage. New York: Coward-McCann, 1983. Print. (ISBN 069811244X).
Crozier, William Armstrong Edition. Crozier's General Armory A Registry of American Families Entitled to Coat Armor. New York: Fox, Duffield, 1904. Print.
Colletta, John P. They Came In Ships. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1993. Print.
Martine, Roddy, Roderick Martine and Don Pottinger. Scottish Clan and Family Names Their Arms, Origins and Tartans. Edinburgh: Mainstream, 1992. Print.
Barrow, G.W.S Ed. The Charters of David I The Written Acts of David I King of Scots, 1124-53 and of His Son Henry, Earl of Northumerland, 1139-52. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1999. Print.
Dorward, David. Scottish Surnames. Glasgow: Harper Collins, 1995. Print.
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The Grearson Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Grearson Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 9 February 2016 at 08:06.